The engagement was held in terms of section 181(3) of the Constitution which mandates that all organs of state cooperate with and provide the necessary support to Chapter 9 institutions, to enable them to perform their functions effectively.

The Commission plays a critical role in advancing human rights through its engagements with provincial governments. These interactions focus on oversight, advocacy, and collaboration to strengthen service delivery and governance in the provinces. By engaging provincial authorities, the Commission ensures that government entities and officials are accountable for addressing human rights violations and shortcomings in service delivery.

The engagement addressed systemic human rights challenges identified by the ECPO and emphasised the need for government intervention to mitigate and resolve these violations. Additionally, the engagement provided the ECPE with an overview of the most prevalent human rights complaints in the province, highlighted unresponsive government stakeholders, and presented general human rights trends observed during the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 financial years. The ECPO's reports and recommendations on human rights violations were emphasised and submitted to the ECPE for ongoing implementation and oversight.

In response, the Provincial Government reaffirmed its commitment to overseeing the delivery of socio-economic rights in a manner that upholds constitutional principles and aligns with human rights standards. Additional commitments were made to strengthen accountability and transparency, with a focus on addressing service delivery challenges and human rights violations through responsible governance. Furthermore, the ECPE recognised the critical importance of upholding these commitments to foster inclusive governance, promote social justice, and advance human rights across local, district, and provincial levels.

These efforts aim to ensure that governance structures effectively support equitable development and protect the rights of all citizens.

Ends

For further information, contact the SAHRC Provincial Manager, Dr Eileen Carter @ 043 722 7828/072 638 9016 or email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Advocacy and Research Officer, Zukiswa N Mqakanya @ 043 722 7828/ 063 301 3773 for WhatsApp or email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.